The Free Press
MANKATO — Leisure Education for Exceptional People (LEEP) is proud to share that two of its Special Olympics athletes will be competing in the national 2026 Special Olympics USA Games that will be held at the University of Minnesota from June 20-26.
Julie Seys will be competing in track and field and Elizabeth Enright will be competing in bocce ball singles. Both athletes have been participating in various events to prepare for the Special Olympics USA Games as part of Team Minnesota and will be spending the week of competition on-campus with their teammates and coaches at the University of Minnesota.
Seys has been participating in Special Olympics with LEEP for over 20 years, while Enright has been participating for about 10 years. They were selected to participate via an interview process.
These LEEP athletes are two of over 100 athletes that participate as individual athletes and on LEEP’s 9 Special Olympics teams, with some sports providing opportunities for unified partners (individuals without disabilities) to participate and compete together with Special Olympics athletes.
LEEP is a nonprofit that enriches the lives of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities through inclusive recreation, sporting, and healthy living opportunities in the Greater Mankato Area.
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games is a national celebration of inclusivity, changing perceptions and the ability of the human spirit rising above limitations. The USA Games, with co-presenting partners Jersey Mike’s Subs and UnitedHealthcare, will be one of the biggest U.S. sporting events of the year, drawing tens of thousands of fans to celebrate the ability of nearly 3,000 incredible athletes from all 50 states as they compete in 16 Olympic-type team and individual sports. As a state with a long history of championing inclusion, the USA Games now bring an unrivaled opportunity to Minnesota to spark new energy around the Special Olympics movement and create a lasting legacy of positive change.